Rockstar Buys Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Developer, Renames It Rockstar Australia

Rockstar Games has acquired Video Games Deluxe, the developer behind Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, renaming it Rockstar Australia. Video Games Deluxe boasts a history of collaboration with Rockstar, contributing to the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and more recently, overseeing crucial upgrades for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition across iOS, Android, Netflix, and modern consoles. This acquisition distinguishes Rockstar from Grove Street Games, the original developer of the trilogy, which faced criticism for the initial game's quality and subsequent removal from the credits following a significant update developed by Video Games Deluxe.

"After a long and successful partnership, we're thrilled to welcome Video Games Deluxe to the Rockstar family as Rockstar Australia," stated Jennifer Kolbe, Head of Publishing at Rockstar Games.

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Video Games Deluxe was founded by Brendan McNamara, the founder of Team Bondi, the studio behind L.A. Noire. Following allegations of challenging working conditions at Team Bondi during L.A. Noire's development in 2011, the studio closed, and McNamara maintained a lower profile until now.

"It's been an honor collaborating with Rockstar Games for the past decade," McNamara commented on the acquisition. "We're excited to join the Rockstar Games team and continue creating exceptional gaming experiences."

The formation of Rockstar Australia precedes the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, currently slated for Fall 2025. In December 2023, a former Rockstar developer offered insight into the PC release timeline for GTA VI, urging PC gamers to remain patient. Further updates are available regarding Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick's comments on the future of GTA Online following the release of GTA VI.